Main Idea Worksheets
Welcome to our main idea worksheets for elementary, middle and high-school!
Understanding the main idea in a text is crucial for effective reading and communication. The main idea is the key message the text aims to deliver. Without it, it’s hard to understand the details or remember the content. In school, where students often deal with complex topics, knowing the main idea helps organize and remember information. This skill is also useful in daily life for things like understanding contracts or news articles.
Additionally, being able to identify the main idea helps develop critical thinking. It teaches students to focus on important information and question the text. This skill is important for success in today’s information-heavy world. Overall, grasping the main idea is essential for academic and real-life success.
Teacher Tools
Identifying the topic of a sentence or paragraph is a good starting point for understanding the main idea. The topic tells what the sentence or paragraph is about, while the main idea goes a step further to explain what the
This printable main idea anchor chart is a great classroom resource or at-home reference sheet for students!
Students will use the graphic template to help find the main idea of a story. Can be used at home or in the classroom paired with a story of the teacher's (or students') choosing.
This main idea graphic template is great for students in middle school and high school!
Use this printable main idea graphic organizer to gather your thoughts and determine the main idea of a text.
Main Idea Worksheets - Getting Started with Topics
Identifying the topic of a sentence or paragraph is a good starting point for understanding the main idea. The topic tells what the sentence or paragraph is about, while the main idea goes a step further to explain what the author is saying about that topic. Knowing the topic can help a student focus attention and start forming an understanding of the text's broader message. Once they have a sense of the topic, they can look for key statements or sentences that describes what the author wants us to know about that topic—that's the main idea.
Read through this short paragraph about robots and answer the multiple choice question.
Find the topic sentence and circle the correct answer after reading through this short paragraph.
Read this short passage about The Gold Rush. Then, find the topic sentence and circle the correct answer.
Here, students will read an excerpt about The Olympic Games. Then, they will be asked to find the topic sentence and write it on the given lines.
Students will read a short paragraph about biological engineering, then write the topic sentence on the provided lines.
Main Idea Worksheets - Understanding Supporting Details
Understanding supporting details is often the next logical step after identifying the topic. Supporting details give context, explanations, or evidence that backs up the main idea. By paying attention to these details, a student can gain a clearer understanding of what the author is trying to convey, making it easier to identify the main idea. In other words, while the topic tells "what" the text is about, and the main idea tells "what the author is saying about the topic," supporting details help to flesh out, justify, or explain that main idea.
Read the short paragraph about mountain gorillas. Then, complete the chart by filling out the main idea and supporting details.
Students will read about sled dogs. Then, they will write down the main idea and supporting details in the given ovals.
Read about Project Mercury. Then, write the main idea and supporting details of the paragraph in the provided chart.
Read this fun, short paragraph about Snowdrop the elf. Then, write the main idea and three supporting details.
Students will be asked to read this short paragraph about orangutans. Then, they will answer the given questions by filling out the chart with the main idea and supporting details.
Main Idea Worksheets - Early Grades
Students will read a short paragraph. Then, they will write the main idea and two supporting details.
Read about Buddy the dog and answer questions related to main idea and supporting details!
Students will be asked to read through this short excerpt. Then, they will find the main idea and write two supporting details.
Students will read through the short paragraph, then circle the main idea multiple choice answer. Next, students will be asked to write two supporting details.
Read this passage and find the main idea! Students will circle the main idea and then write two supporting details.
Read through this passage. Then, answer the following questions on main idea and supporting details.
Students will read this passage and answer the questions focusing on main idea and supporting details.
Read the passage. Then, circle the main idea multiple choice answer and write one supporting detail in each box.
Students will read a short excerpt about Goldie the fish. Then, they will circle the correct main idea multiple choice answer and write one supporting detail in each box.
Read the short passage about an afternoon adventure. Then, find the main idea and write one supporting detail in each given box.
Students will read the passage and find the main idea. Then, they will answer the question and write two supporting details.
Read the given passage about a storm. Then, find the main idea and circle the correct multiple choice answer. Next, write two supporting details for the main idea.
Main Idea Worksheets - Middle & High School
Students will read this passage about vinyl turntables. Then, they will answer the questions about main idea and supporting details.
Read this short excerpt. Then, answer the given questions about main idea and supporting details.
Students will read this short piece about the electric guitar. Then, they will write the main idea and supporting details.
Learn about innovations in transportation with this activity. Students will read the passage, then write the main idea and two supporting details.
In this printable main idea activity on the eras of musical evolution, students will be asked to read the passage and then answer the questions that follow.
Read this short story. Then, write the main idea in your own words, along with two supporting details.
Students will read this short passage about pollinators. Then, they will be asked to write the main idea and two supporting details.
Read this passage about gravitational forces. Then, write the main idea and three supporting details on the provided lines.
Students will read this short passage. Then, they will be asked to write the main idea in their own words, along with three supporting details.